By Me’Lyea Burton / LifeAtStart.com Reporter
Have you ever heard of a coffee shop banning creamer? A clothing store banning jeans?
I haven’t, which is why it seems odd that school systems ban books.
Many school systems have prohibited students of different ages from reading certain books. To make matters more odd, the reason(s) behind each book being banned seem completely ridiculous. For some, it may not be important but, being a bookworm myself, it’s almost blasphemous.
According to InfoPlease.com, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was banned because it was allegedly too depressing. I don’t understand how a school system, one that is supposed to stimulate and advance the mind, can limit a student’s ability to explore.
How can they police what somebody else can handle emotionally?
I understand some people may find some genres or styles of writing disturbing, but why punish those who don’t? I could think The Bailey School Kids promotes conspiracy but, to others, it may promote intuitiveness. Harriet the Spy was banned because the school systems believe that it encourages children to lie, spy, curse, and talk back. The Harry Potter series is described as “too dark” for young children. Many more famous books have been banned due to some feeling as though reading, a fundamental to an American citizen, should be censored.
Other books that are banned are listed here: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/banned-kids-books.html